Numerical Study on Sediment Concentration in Yellow River Estuary

Sediment transport at the Yellow river delta is affected by many different factors, including tide, waves and river flows. With the change of river exit in 1996, a new delta is rapidly growing which leads to a new sediment transport regime. Most existing computer modelling work at the site is yet to take such changes into account. In addition, the wave action at the river mouth is often ignored in the past and only tidal influences were considered. The current study focuses on the new hydrodynamics regime due to combined waves and tides, and the resultant sediment transport pattern in order to reveal the possible impacts from the shift of the river exit. A 3D near shore morphodynamic model has been applied to the region in combination with large regional oceanographic model of FVCOM and SWAN. Model results indicate the fine sediment was transported by the river flow into the sea and then tidal currents dominant its course. The combined waves and tidal currents seems produce strong northern sediment transport at the old river mouth which also interacts with the fine sediment from the new exit.